How do the latest generation of Mid-Size Sedans stack up to one another?

The more reading and research I do on different vehicles, the more I wonder how each brand actually stacks up to the others. So I figured I would do some basic number crunching and do my own comparison. Once again I will be utilizing the Price Per Pony (ppp) method.

The models we will be looking at today are:

• 2016 Cadillac CTS 3.6L Luxury Edition
• 2016 Mercedes-Benz E350
• 2016 BMW 535i
• 2016 Volvo S60 T6 AWD
• 2016 Hyundai Genesis 5.0
• 2016 Audi S4
• 2016 Jaguar XF-S

The first thing I looked at was the base cost of the vehicle and the horse power you get for that amount. The vehicles break down as such:

• CTS - $53,285 @ 335 HP = $159.06/ppp
• E350 - $53,100 @ 302 HP = $175.83/ppp
• 535i - $55,850 @ 300 HP = $186.17/ppp
• S60 - $44,200 @ 325 HP = $136.00/ppp
• Genesis - $53,850 @ 420 HP = $128.21/ppp
• S4 - $49,200 @ 333 HP = $147.75/ppp
• XF-S - $63,695 @ 380 HP = $167.62/ppp

Based on the ppp score we can rate the vehicles in the following order:

1. Hyundai Genesis
2. Volvo S60
3. Audi S4
4. Cadillac CTS
5. Jaguar XF-S
6. Mercedes E350
7. BMW 535i

Now let's take it just one step further and see what each vehicles acceleration (0-60) looks like:

• Genesis - 5.0s
• S60 - 5.4s
• S4 - 4.9s
• CTS - 5.9s
• XF-S - 5.0s
• E350 - 6.5s
• 535i - 5.3s

Obviously there is more to cars than power and speed (who woulda thunk it right?) so we do need to take that other stuff into consideration I guess. Before we do that though, we need to look at each manufacturer and what it is that they actually deliver in their vehicles. 

The Genesis is Hyundai's mid level luxury performance brand. While Hyundai isn't exactly known for plush interiors, the Genesis is a luxury sedan at it's core. Volvo, to me, is more of the every-mans luxury vehicle. They tend to keep a very utilitarian air about them while keeping you comfortable behind the wheel. Audi on the other hand is a luxury vehicle through and through. Whether you are going for the entry level A4 or shooting for the Supercar level R8, the interior will keep you comfortable and never let you forget that you are in fact in a luxury vehicle. Cadillac is as luxury as you can get with a domestic vehicle so there really isn't much else to say about them. Jaguar speaks for themselves. They are, before anything else, the epitome of British luxury styling. Which brings me to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Everyone loves to compare these two German behemoths, when in reality it is like comparing apples to pears. At first appearance they seem to be similar but the differences come when you look at the DNA ingrained in each vehicle. Mercedes is a luxury vehicle with sport added in, whereas BMW is a sports vehicle with luxury added in. When you get behind the wheel of a BMW it feels like you are sitting in a sports car and that feeling only intensifies as you drive it. Stiff throttle response and steering coupled with tight steering gives no illusions about what you are driving. Mercedes on the other hand is the exact opposite. Driving a Mercedes is as close to piloting air as you can come. It is very easy to forget that you are driving a vehicle that has a very deep history in the racing world.

That being said let's move forward.

Let's assume for a minute that money is no object, so let's just throw pricing out of the windows. If you are looking for speed off the line then the Audi S4 is going to be the way to go. If you are looking for raw power under the hood then the Jaguar XF-S is your car. IF you are going for sportiness then BMW or Genesis is the one you want. Luxury? Mercedes-Bens. So how do you decide which car is the one for you if you want everything rolled up into one? In my honest opinion, if you are looking for a vehicle that gives you power under the hood, coupled with speed off the line all while sitting inside a comfortable cockpit then I would personally go with the Genesis. It isn't the cheapest on the list, but it is definitely not the most expensive. While the 5.0 version is available as only a rear-wheel drive model, you can opt for the turbo V6 and get AWD, so you can actually drive it in the winter as well!

BMW i8: Fast, Good Looking... and Eco Friendly.

With the growing popularity of hybrid and e-Drive vehicles it is no wonder that almost all of the major car manufacturers out there are throwing their own versions into the ring. Hybrid and electric drive vehicles run the gamut from entry level like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt to the Mercedes Benz S Class Plug-in Hybrid and the Tesla Model S. Of course we have had the Toyota Prius on the worldwide market since 2000. It is no wonder that there would of course be a luxury segment as well, i.e., the aforementioned Tesla Model S and Mercedes. But what about the sport segment? Where is the hybrid/electric drive version that puts you into the back of your seat when you press the accelerator to the floor? Obviously the Model S has the Insane Mode that was besting Challenger Hellcats off the line, but it is still a luxury car. That is where the BMW i8 comes into play. The BMW i8 has 100% racing in it's DNA. With a zero-to-sixty time of just 4.2 seconds the i8 will definitely leave a huge smile on your face.

When the BMW i division went to work creating this work of art the main focal point was the aerodynamics of it. Every design aspect was used to create the most aerodynamically capable vehicle possible. What BMW managed to create was a vehicle with a low drag coefficient of 0.26. The BMW i8 is covered throughout with small vents. The i8 uses Efficient Dynamic ventilation to actively open and close the vents to provide additional cooling, reduce coefficient drag, and improve overall aerodynamics. Regardless of how functional the exterior design of the i8 is, there is no denying how good it looks.

All though the BMW i8 can be driven in all electric mode it is, at it's very core, a hybrid vehicle. At the front of the vehicle is an electric motor that puts out 131 horse power. Located at the rear of the vehicle powering the rear wheels is a turbo charged 1.5-liter 3 cylinder engine putting out 226 horse power giving the i8 a combined horse power of 357 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. The power is distributed to the wheels with an Aisin F21-360 FT EOP transmission which is a transmission designed specifically for transversely mounted engines.

The BMW i division continued their engineering genius inside by using a combination of Aluminum and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) to create the two part structure. The choice of materials id due to it's rigidity and extreme lightness compared to steel. Because of the materials used and the constant attention to every aspect of the vehicle both inside and out the BMW i8 has a near perfect 50:50 weight distribution.

Entry to the cockpit is through the rather unique set of scissor style doors. Once inside the interior is quite comfortable yet still let's you know that this is not a luxury car, but rather a sports car with some luxury added in. As far as interior option go there is only 3 different option to choose from, and of course you can always opt to buy the Louis Vuitton luggage set designed specifically for the i8, but you have to go to the LV store and provide proof of i8 ownership first.

Driving the i8, you have 4 modes to choose from.

• Comfort mode, which give the driver a balance between sporty and comfortable fuel efficiency.
• Sport mode will give you the ultra-intense boost function provided by the electric motor.
• Eco-Pro is optimized for maximum efficiency whether you are in hybrid or all electric mode.
• e Drive is a purely electric mode with a range of 15 miles and a top speed of 75 MPH.

Pricing for the BMW i8 starts at $140,700.00 and with few options to customize will top out around $155,000.00 depending on which interior you go with and whether you added on the laser headlights or not.

Special thanks to Bobby Rahal BMW for allowing me to photograph inside of their showroom.

2016 BMW M4 sets a new standard for midsize performance.

With a zero to sixty time of 4.1 seconds and a Nurburgring lap time of 7:52 the 2016 BMW M4 isn't the fastest car available, or even the fastest BMW available, but it is definitely one of the best looking. With a twin turbo 3.0-liter straight six engine putting out a blistering 425 horsepower to the rear wheels this car will get you to wherever you are going, and it will get you there fast. The BMW M4 has a solid mount rear axle bolted directly to the body without the use of bushings to allow for a stiffer rear end. Couple that with the Active M differential that uses Dynamic Stability Control data, pedal position, wheel rotation, and yaw rate to control slip on each wheel and it will get you around those corners quicker than ever before as well.

The fun doesn't just stop there though. Also in the rear end of the vehicle is an electric motor that varies the power distribution between the wheels in turns, and even reduces under steer when cornering. In the cockpit is the usual sport inspired BMW interior with one M specific addition. A full color Heads-Up display that projects your speed, selected gear, engine-rev counter, and shift lights. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission, although for an additional $2,900.00 you can opt for the 7-speed dual clutch automatic.

As usual you can add a plethora of options to your vehicle, but for those that want to max out the performance in the BMW M4 you can upgrade the brakes to Carbon Ceramic for a small fee of only $8,100.00. You can also add on the Adaptive Suspension that electronically controls the dampers to help keep the car in it's line. The price tag starts at $65,700.00 and the convertible starts at $74,000.00 but I can't imagine any of these will leave the show room floor for that amount.

A special thank you to Bobby Rahal BMW for allowing me to photograph inside of their showroom.